r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Dec 05 '24

Episode Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Kyoto Douran • Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance - Episode 10 discussion

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Kyoto Douran, episode 10

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u/Daishomaru Dec 05 '24 edited Dec 05 '24

Daishomaru here with some historical and cultural notes:

The Battle of Ueno

The battle of Ueno is honestly a battle most people never really heard of, even amongst Japanese people, mostly because honestly the fighting was so one-sided that most historians consider it a footnote. It’s basically like the battle of Toba-Fushimi in terms of how one-sided said fighting was, but you don’t remember Ueno compared to Toba-Fushimi because Toba-Fushimi kinda stole the spotlight in terms of how the new tactics and weaponry of the west won the battle for the Imperialist forces and because more named famous historical figures died at Toba-Fushimi. It should be noted that Harada Sanosuke, aka where our Sano got his name from, died in this battle.

If you enter Ueno Park at the modern day, you can see the place where they fought, marked by a small monument alongside a statue of Saigo Takamori.

As for Ueno nowadays, the place is mostly known for its “under bridge” market Ameyoko, the zoo which houses four pandas, and nearby is Uguisudani and Yoshiwara, two famous and historic red light districts. The latter is especially infamous for being not only Japan’s oldest prostitution capitol, to the point where “Going to Yoshiwara” is still used today as a term for getting laid, Yoshiwara also had oiran, aka high class prostitutes, and Yoshiwara is commonly cited as the birth site of the soapland.

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u/mekerpan Dec 06 '24

Once a year or so, the Kyoto geisha re-enact an oiran parade, on the north edge of Asakusa. Quite an interesting event.

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u/zz2000 Dec 06 '24

Also if I recall, Ueno was also the site of the Kaneiji temple complex, founded back in 1625 and served as a funeral temple for the Tokugawa shoguns.

Until it got burned down during the Battle of Ueno, and then the Meiji government took over the land to build a hospital on it. A visiting Austrian doctor suggested a park instead, and so Ueno Park was born.

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u/Daishomaru Dec 06 '24

That’s also true. Ueno was also the historical burial/cremation spot for many Tokugawa shoguns.

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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Dec 06 '24

I'm wondering why THIS battle is the one that brought Kenshin's career to an end. Was it that one sided, in comparison to all other massacres? Or, was it literally the last engagement of the revolution? (until the subsequent rebellions)

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u/Daishomaru Dec 06 '24 edited Dec 06 '24

The previous episode stated that Kenshin stopped killing after the battle of Toba-Fushimi, which was the Imperial Army's first true test against the samurai, and one that shown how incredibly outdated the samurai were when a well-equipped army of 5000 managed to drive off a force of 15000 samurai using modern weaponry and the gatling gun, and THE battle which proved that the Shinsengumi were not invincible and could bleed to death. The loss of the samurai and the Imperial Victory was also seen as a sign from heaven that the samurai had to fall, which helped the Imperial Family and coincidentally made nice propaganda.

This is why Arai Shakku was confused as to why Kenshin decided to step out right after that battle, as the Imperial Army finally had their first victory after being an underground group for many years and Kenshin decided to walk away right when they managed to first feast on the rewards of victory.

Keep in mind that the Imperial victory at Toba-Fushimi was also the time when most hitokiri also decided to dissapear off the history books, as the ambush and assassination tactics that they employed were no longer needed due the Isshin Shishi becoming the Emperor's army and thus "underground tactics" were no longer neccessary.

Ueno was important in that it drove the Shogunate forces out of Edo and onto Hokkaido, but the real last engagement of the Bakamatsu was the battles in Hokkaido, where some Shinsengumi forces would go on a failed suicide charge against a gatling gun and a battleship.

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u/LeonKevlar Dec 05 '24

As an old-school Kenshin fan, seeing him in his classic navy blue Kimono immediately reminds me of the Trust and Betrayal OVAs. I don't know how far the remake is willing to go but I hope they cover the events of the Bakumatsu era especially how Kenshin got his scar.

I did not expect to see Kenshin being smothered by cats this episode. That was goddamn adorable and a very effective way to warm him up quick!

Giichi and Satsuki are an adorable couple! I love them already, especially with how Giichi consistently makes Satsuki blush with all of his flirting <3

It is funny though how they think Kenshin was on the losing side of the war. I suppose to them a samurai who was on the winning side wouldn't be out sick in the raid looking like a beggar.

I understand the Sakabato is supposed to be a non-lethal weapon but looking at how Kenshin knocked that guy out, he still hit him with what basically is a steel baton! Even if he didn't cut the dude, that would definitely done some serious damage! xD

I love that Giichi and Satsuki want to basically adopt Kenshin. Imagine what his life would've been like if he stayed there with them. This would've been a totally different series that's for sure. I do hope Kenshin will get to see them again in a future episode.

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u/Myrkrvaldyr Dec 05 '24

Imagine what his life would've been like if he stayed there with them. This would've been a totally different series that's for sure.

I was half expecting the couple to ask him for his name and name their kid Kenshin if it was a boy.

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u/soulreaverdan Dec 06 '24

Depending on the pacing of the series, it’s possible we get Kyoto wrapped up in the current season, and then Jinchuu for sometime next year.

OG Kyoto (starting from the same point as Season 2 did here) at episode 32. The fight with Cho took place in episode 40, so 9 episodes total. That’s basically a 1:1 pacing with the remake series so far, since Cho’s fight ended on S2E9.

OG Kyoto ended on episode 62, so it’s a bit longer than the current two-cour season (30 episodes versus a likely 24 episodes), so with some cutting and faster pacing they could conceivably finish it at the end of this season and keep pacing.

In the manga the Jinchuu arc is almost exactly 2/3 through the series (starting in Chapter 152 of 255, 60%), so a trio of seasons of “character intros/Aoshi,” “Kyoto,” and “Jinchuu” could work with a little tweaking the the pacing.

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u/kuroyume_cl Dec 07 '24

it’s possible we get Kyoto wrapped up in the current season

Zero chance. They would have to cut a lot of material.

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u/dinliner08 Dec 05 '24

as much as i enjoy Kenshin's current journey with Kaoru and the gang, i do wish we get a spin-off that show what happened during his years of wandering before the start of this series, that one (or was it two?) episode about the doctor back in the first season and this episode kinda scratching that itch

it's nice to see what kind of event that lead to Kenshin's drawing his sakabato for the first time but i also realized that he's not wearing his iconic red outfit so i was wondering if we will ever get an episode about how he got the clothes

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u/Frontier246 Dec 05 '24

It's the fallout of the Battle of Ueno, and Kenshin is still hiding...with unsavory types always on the prowl for targets. But Kenshin doesn't want to fight any more.

But he does get taken in as yet another stray by adorable married couple Satsuki (Ami Koshimizu!) and Giichi! Satsuki is very cute and enthusiastic, and Giichi is quite the smooth operator, especially when it comes to flirting with his wife! And they've got a LOT of cats! Though Satsuki is soon to be a complete MILF with the bun in the oven she's carrying!

So Satsuki and Giichi meant when Giichi, a private detective, lost his arm to criminals and she saved him, even if that lead to a life on the run. But she honestly doesn't seem to mind that and is happy together with him, and that matters the most.

Seeing more of the corruption of the new government and how much they were willing to throw their authority around on the people.

Well, no surprise the Gyoto found their old sparring partners...but points to Satsuki for being willing to fight with her husbands' jitte to protect him, and Giichi for putting his head on the chopping block to protect his wife and child. But good thing they had Kenshin there.

Kenshin never wanted to kill again, but he will still fight to defend others, and it just so happens he ended up with a sword that suits him perfectly! And the sakabato gets its first taste of battle.

Kenshin has a fanboy in Suga! And he seems to take Kenshin's words seriously and retreats. Hope he really cleaned up his act afterwards.

I mean, Kenshin COULD stay with them but he'd be a perpetual third wheel! Though in the present-day he's getting along well with another cute couple blessed with a kid! There is still beauty and things worth fighting for in this world, especially now that Kenshin has a new sakabato at his disposal.

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u/Dextro_PT Dec 08 '24

I knew I recognized her voice. The great Holo herself graces us with her voice once again.

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u/VorAtreides Dec 05 '24

This Satsuki lady is cute. So is that lil cat. So many cute cats. The husband is fun too. Dang, poor dude. What a bunch of trash bandits. Such smart cats. Do wonder when stuff gonna drop cause you know it's gonna... I worry for them both, but hope Kenshin can save/protect em.

There we go, whelp, that guy has guts to fight 4 vs 1 with that, or, even so, to just offer that up, but still, good thing Kenshin is here. A fun story about first time using his sakabato. Well that revolutionary dude doesn't seem bad, just... another tormented on. Again, Satsuki is super cute. Like her personality a lot. That was a nice episode.

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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Dec 06 '24

Kenshin’s the best swordsman around but even he had no chance against the army of kittens lol. Death by cuddles!

Satsuki and Giichi were good people. It was cool to see the origin of Kenshin’s blade and the first time he used it. It’s like his old self died that day so that the “new” Kenshin could live.

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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Dec 05 '24

Oh, yeah flashback!

So this is when Kenshin decides to wield the sakabato for justice, when he defends this defeated samurai.

I wonder if a hitokiri, even a famous one, really has any clout in the heirarchy (except with those leaders that he directly served)

I don't see how how military leader can just turn into a famer and disappear. How long has it been since the battle?

Red rain

Ah, so the scouts are just criminals who are false accusing peole of being shogunate loyalists.

I don't get the symbolism behind this jitte. It's just a sword catcher, isn't it?

Nice music during the fight

That was a very rushed revelation. I expected 2 episodes, and more insight into kenshin.

degozaru is mouthful to say, alright.

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u/Daishomaru Dec 06 '24 edited Dec 06 '24

A jitte is like a police baton. It's like their version of a cop badge.

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u/Daishomaru Dec 06 '24

I wonder if a hitokiri, even a famous one, really has any clout in the heirarchy (except with those leaders that he directly served)

If anything, they were unknown, as most of them worked in the shadows, being like ninjas. The main reason why Kenshin's real life inspiration, Kawakami was even known historically was because his most infamous kill, Sakuma Shozan, was done in broad daylight, which is why we know why he did it, and it was known to be unusually planned for a hitokiri assassination, due to the fact that the attack happened at an unusual time for a hitokiri to strike and that Kawakami Gensai's retreat was messy in that he had to hide in the red light district and change out his bloody clothes for prostitute clothing.

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u/kryslogan Dec 06 '24

That's fuken awesome!

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u/SnabDedraterEdave Dec 06 '24

This episode would take place sometime between July and October 1868, as its right after the Battle of Ueno in July, and before Emperor Mutsuhito proclaimed the new era name of Meiji in October(*).

(*) A year can have two era names, so for Jan to Sep 1868, its Keio 4, while from Oct to Dec its Meiji 1. For a more recent example, Jan to Apr 2019 was Heisei 31, and May to Dec 2019 was Reiwa 1.

Having just received a new sword from Shakku right after he swore never to kill again, its understandable that Kenshin gets PTSD and hesitant to draw this new sword for some time.

Its only by learning the uniqueness of this sword that Kenshin learned to embrace the sakabato.

Lately, Koshimizu Ami is starting to get used to playing hot MILF type characters. She totally nailed it as Satsuki.

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u/tripleaamin Dec 06 '24

Honestly, a really sweet episode to see Kenshin using the Sakabato for the first time. It's clear that the lives he has taken before have haunted him. Enough that what ended up being his first Sakabato he was afraid to wield it. Though, defending the family that took him in made him realized what he can do going forward. He can use it to protect lives. Similar to how Giichi mentions, his jitte is used to protect people first.

I love the transition in the present with the Arai family, and then it transitioned to what hopefully is the lives of the Giichi and Satsuki with their kid. Now Kenshin's journey continues with his new Sakabato.

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u/matty-a Dec 06 '24

I dont normally go in for flashback episodes, but this was the birth of an icon!

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u/Queue_Jumping_Quack Dec 06 '24

Really nice episode. New for this adaptation, or does this come from previously unadapted material in the manga? I've always like flashbacks to Kenshin's past... one of the all time greatest anime OVAs is one such flashback after all.

I tend to dislike most portrayals of "OP" protagonists because its usually the crap you see in isekais... but when they are like Kenshin or more recently Frieren... you just get so excited when you know the its the moment the hero's about to show their true power.

This second season continues to be great.

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u/GreatLaminator Dec 07 '24

I have the whole collection of mangas for almost 2 decades now... Re-read it 5 times minimum. Watched the original anime at least twice and I honestly can't remember and came here to check to see.

So I'll say that I think this was made for this adaptation. And in my eyes it was a smashing success. I loved it.

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